Analysis method, discoid sample holder and use of a sample holder

Abstract

A discoid sample holder (1), on which a device (2) for carrying out at least one processing step is formed. According to the invention, a slot (3), into which a sampling instrument (4) can be introduced, and a mechanism (5) for releasing a sample from the sampling instrument (4) arranged in the receptacle (3), is formed in the sample holder.

Claims

1. A discoid sample holder (1), comprising: means (2) for carrying out at least one processing step on a sample; at least two segments (28), with each of the at least two segments comprising a slot (3) configured for receiving a sampling instrument (4) bearing the sample; means for connection to a drive for detachment of the sample from the sampling instrument (4); wherein one of the at least two segments (28) is separable from an adjacent one of the at least two segments along a respective separation line (29); wherein an insertion opening (7) for inserting the sampling instrument (4) into the slot (3) of at least one of the at least two segments (28) lies on the separation line (29) or on an inner edge of the at least one of the two segments; and wherein the slot (3) starts from the insertion opening (7) and terminates in a slot end (8) which lies radially outward from the insertion opening (7) with respect to a center of rotation (10) of the discoid sample holder (1), such that the sample detached from the sampling instrument (4) is prevented from flowing back to the insertion opening (7) when the sample holder (1) is rotated.

2. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for connection to a drive comprises a coupling (6) for a motional fixed coupling of the sample holder (1) to the drive.

3. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coupling (6) is formed for a rotationally fixed connection to a rotary drive and a radial distance (9) of the slot (3) from the center of rotation (10) defined by the coupling (6) along the slot (3) between the insertion opening (7) and the slot end (8).

4. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot (3) for insertion of the sampling instrument (4) is oriented in a disk plane predefined by the sample holder (1) or at an acute angle (11) to the disk plane.

5. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sample is flowable, and the slot (3) opens into a chamber (13) arranged after the slot end (8) of the slot (3) in a flow direction (12) of the detached sample or a filter (14) is arranged after the slot in the flow direction (12).

6. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a resting projection (15), against which an inserted sampling instrument (4) rests or is held in a punctiform or linear fashion, is formed in the slot (3).

7. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a liquid reservoir (17) connected to a chamber (13) that is filled with a collection liquid, and the chamber (13) is in communication with the slot and is configured to receive at least a part of the sample from the sampling instrument (4).

8. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sample is flowable, and the chamber (13) is formed in a tapered manner in a flow direction (12) of a detached sample, or the chamber (13) has an outlet (21) at a chamber end (20) facing away from the slot (3) in a flow direction (12) of the detached sample.

9. The discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot (3) has a running direction which encloses an angle with a radial direction with respect to the center of rotation (10) of the discoid sample holder (1) or the slot (3) extends from the insertion opening (7) past the center of rotation (10) and ends on an opposite side of the center of rotation (10).

10. An analysis method for a sample, comprising: picking up the sample with a sampling instrument (4) and extracting the sample from the sampling instrument using the discoid sample holder (1) as claimed in claim 1, including: separating at least two of the segments (28) from one another along the separation line (29), inserting the sampling instrument (4) containing the picked-up sample into the slot (3) of the sample holder (1) through the insertion opening (7) that lies on the separation line (29) or an inner edge of the at least one of the two segments, and detaching the sample from the sampling instrument (4) at the slot end (8) of the slot (3) which lies radially outward from the insertion opening (7) with respect to a center of rotation (10) of the discoid sample holder (1), such that the sample detached from the sampling instrument (4) is prevented from flowing back to the insertion opening (7) when the sample holder is rotated.

11. The analysis method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sample is detached from the sampling instrument (4) by a movement of the sample holder (1).

12. The analysis method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising gathering the detached sample in a chamber (13), and mixing the detached sample portion in the chamber (13) with a collection liquid during the detaching.

13. The analysis method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one of applying an external conveying pressure to the chamber (13) after detachment of the sample in order to convey the detached sample for the at least one processing step or closing the slot (3) after insertion of the sampling instrument (4), using at least one of an adhesive strip, a stopper (18), or by use of a closure formed on the sampling instrument (4).

14. The analysis method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising filtering the detached sample before entry into the chamber (13).

15. The analysis method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising using a swab (23) or an absorbent material as the sampling instrument (4).

16. The analysis method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sampling instrument (4) is positioned by the slot (3) at an angle to a radial direction with respect to the center of rotation (10) of the discoid sample holder (1) or the sampling instrument (4) is positioned by the slot (3) from an insertion opening (7) past the center of rotation (10) up to the slot end (8) on an opposite side of the center of rotation (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a greatly schematized depiction of a discoid sample holder according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sampling instrument for use in an analysis method according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified depiction of the use of a sampling instrument on a sample holder,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the sample holder, as per FIG. 1, with inserted sampling instrument,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a further sample holder according to the invention, assembled from five discoid sample holders in the form of segments,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a segment from FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the insertion of a sampling instrument into the segment from FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectional representation through the segment from FIG. 6,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a further sample holder according to the invention, assembled from five discoid sample holders in the form of segments, having slots running radially away from the center of rotation,

(11) FIG. 10 shows a segment from FIG. 9,

(12) FIG. 11 shows the insertion of a sampling instrument into the segment from FIG. 10,

(13) FIG. 12 shows a further sample holder according to the invention, assembled from five discoid sample holders in the form of segments, having slots running diagonally at an angle to the radial direction,

(14) FIG. 13 shows a segment from FIG. 12, and

(15) FIG. 14 shows the insertion of a sampling instrument into the segment from FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) A discoid sample holder indicated as a whole by 1 in FIG. 1 comprises means 2, which are to be described in more detail, for carrying out at least one processing step on a sample.

(17) The sample holder 1 has a slot 3 into which it is possible to insert the already mentioned sample for the at least one processing step on a sampling instrument 4, which is to be described more precisely and is depicted in more detail in FIG. 2.

(18) Therefore, when using the sample holder 1 in the analysis method according to the invention, the sample is picked up with the sampling instrument 4 and then introduced into the slot 3 with the sampling instrument 4.

(19) The sample holder 1 comprises means 5 for the detachment of the sample from the sampling instrument 4 used. This means 5 comprise in particular a coupling 6, by which it is possible to couple the sample holder 1 in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotary drive not depicted further, for example of the already mentioned analysis instrument.

(20) By the use of the rotary drive, the sample holder 1 is rotated in order to detach the sample from the sampling instrument 4 in the slot 3 via the resulting centrifugal force.

(21) In further exemplary embodiments, a general drive is envisaged instead of the rotary drive, it being possible to couple the sample holder 1 in a motion-fixed manner to said general drive via the coupling 6, in order to detach—for example by shaking—the sample from the sampling instrument 4.

(22) The slot 3 in FIG. 1 has an outwardly open insertion opening 7, through which it is possible to insert the sampling instrument 4.

(23) The slot 3 further has a slot end 8, at which the detachment of the sample from the sampling instrument 4 takes place.

(24) Between the insertion opening 7 and the slot end 8, the slot 3 has a straight profile.

(25) In this connection, the arrangement of the slot 3 is such that a variable, radial distance 9 of the slot 3, for example measured in each case from a variable point on a central line of the slot 3, from a center of rotation 10 of the coupling 6 neither at the insertion opening 7 nor at the slot end 8, but between the slot end 8 and the insertion end 7, has a minimum value. What is thus achieved is that the slot end 8 is arranged radially with respect to the center of rotation 10 beyond a section of the slot 3 that is given by said minimum value. Thus, a sample detached from the sampling instrument 4 used does not flow to the insertion opening 7, but to the slot end 8. Thus, the slot 3 runs past the center of rotation 10 from the insertion opening 7, and so the insertion opening 7 lies on one side of the center of rotation 10 and the slot end 8 lies on an opposite side of the center of rotation 10.

(26) FIG. 3 shows the insertion of the sampling instrument 4 into the slot 3 through the insertion opening 7. It is apparent that the sampling instrument 4 is inserted in the sample holder 1 at an acute angle 11, which can be less than 45° for example and is 0° in FIG. 1. In this connection, the slot 3 runs, for example, from the insertion opening 7 up to the opposite side of the sample holder 1. A swab head 24 (cf. FIG. 2) and the end of the swab handle, remote therefrom, of a sampling instrument 4 are thus arranged in the slot 3 on opposing sides. The inserted sampling instrument 4 thus runs past the center of rotation 10.

(27) Upon rotation of the sample holder 1 around the center of rotation 10 with an inserted sampling instrument 4, the centrifugal forces define a flow direction 12.

(28) After the slot end 8 of the slot 3 in the flow direction 12, there is arranged a chamber 13 into which the slot 3 opens.

(29) The chamber 13 serves to collect the detached sample during the rotation of the sample holder 1.

(30) After the slot end 8, there is formed in the flow direction 12 between the slot 3 and the chamber 13 a filter 14, by means of which it is possible to collect non-liquid constituents of the sampling instrument 4, i.e., fragments or fibers for example, and to retain them away from the chamber 13.

(31) Formed in the slot 3 at the slot end 8 is a resting projection 15, against which the sampling instrument 4 in the slot 3 can rest.

(32) In relation to this, the resting projection 15, which is depicted only symbolically, is shaped such that the sampling instrument 4 rests and is held is a punctiform or linear fashion. For example, the resting projection 15 can comprise in relation to this a tip or ridges.

(33) In the exemplary embodiments shown, the means 2 for carrying out the at least one processing step comprise a cytometer channel 16, by which it is possible to execute in a manner known per se an optical cytometry method.

(34) In relation to this, there are arranged on the sample holder 1 an external light source and an external light detector of the analysis instrument, which are known per se and are not further depicted here.

(35) The sample holder 1 comprises a liquid reservoir 17, in which a collection liquid is held available.

(36) In this connection, the liquid reservoir 17 is opened or openable in relation to the chamber 13, and so it is possible to introduce the collection liquid from the liquid reservoir 17 into the chamber 13. The filled chamber 13 is thus prepared for the collection of the detached sample from the sampling instrument 4. Thus, in the chamber 13, the collected sample is mixed with the collection liquid from the liquid reservoir 17. This can take place during the detachment, i.e., after only a fraction of the sample has reached the chamber 13, or after the detachment of the sample.

(37) During the rotation of the sample holder 1, the sampling instrument 4 and/or the detached sample is/are prevented from exiting the slot 3 through the insertion opening 7 by using a stopper 18 to close the insertion opening 7. Instead of the stopper 18, it is also possible to use an adhesive strip or, in general, a closure. In this connection, the sample holder 1 drawn circularly in FIG. 1 can have a flattening, for example by a secant, on which the insertion opening 7 is formed and which is coverable with a planar adhesive strip.

(38) Alternatively or additionally, in a further exemplary embodiment, the sampling instrument 4 can be provided with a closure for closing the insertion opening 7.

(39) Formed on the sample holder 1 is a pressure connector 19 for an external conveying pressure, which connector is connected to the chamber 13, for example via the slot 3. Thus, it is possible to convey a sample collected in the chamber 13 to the cytometer channel 16.

(40) It is apparent in FIG. 1 that the chamber 13 is, in the flow direction 12, preferably tapered in a radially outward manner.

(41) Formed on a chamber end 20, which is situated on a side of the chamber 13 that is facing away from the slot 3, is an outlet 21, which is connected to the cytometer channel 16 or, in general, to the means 2 for carrying out a processing step.

(42) The outwardly tapered shape of the chamber 13 thus forms walls 22 of the chamber 13 which feed the collected sample to the processing step.

(43) FIG. 2 shows a sampling instrument 4 in the form of a swab 23 having a swab head 24.

(44) The swab head 24 bears an absorbent sampling material 27, which is contacted with the sample to be picked up.

(45) In this connection, the swab head 24 comprises a solid core 25 and tiny hairs 26 protruding from said solid core 25.

(46) The tiny hairs 26 form the sampling material 27 and, in this connection, protrude outwardly from the core 25. They are not interwoven or intertwined.

(47) Thus, the picked-up sample can be easily detached from the tiny hairs 26 by shaking or by a centrifugal force, once the sampling instrument 4 is situated in the slot 3.

(48) The use of the sampling instrument 4 as per FIG. 2 in the sample holder 1 takes place according to the invention as follows:

(49) Firstly, the sample is picked up from a surface using the sampling instrument 4 and inserted into the slot 3 with the sampling instrument 4.

(50) Then, the sample holder 1 is coupled to a rotary drive via the coupling 6, for example by insertion of the sample holder 1 into a corresponding analysis instrument.

(51) Then, the slot 3 is outwardly closed at the insertion opening 7 in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner by a stopper 18 or by a different closure.

(52) FIG. 4 shows the situation after closure of the insertion opening 7 and before the start of the rotation.

(53) In a next step, the sample holder 1 is made to rotate, and so the centrifugal force detaches the sample from the sampling material 27, from the sampling instrument 4 and in particular the swab head 24.

(54) This sample is fed, at the slot end 8, through a filter 14 to the chamber 13, where it is gathered. In the chamber 13, the collected sample is mixed with a collection liquid on the liquid reservoir 17.

(55) Subsequently, the sample holder 1 is stopped and an external conveying pressure is applied to the pressure connector 19.

(56) This external conveying pressure is applied to the chamber 13 via the slot 3 in order to feed the collected sample to the means 2 for carrying out the at least one processing step.

(57) In this connection, in the exemplary embodiment, the sample is conveyed through a cytometer channel 16 in order to execute a cytometry method.

(58) FIG. 5 shows a further sample holder 1 according to the invention, consisting of segments 28 assembled at separation lines 29. Components and functional units which are identical or similar in function or construction to the preceding exemplary embodiments are indicated by the same reference signs and not described separately. The explanations in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4 therefore apply mutatis mutandis to FIGS. 5 to 8.

(59) Each segment 28, taken individually, forms a sample holder 1 according to the invention, which sample holder is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 and is in each case formed such that it is assemblable with further sample holders 1 according to the invention (segments 28) to form a circular disk as per FIG. 5. In particular, each segment is provided with preferably radially running separation lines 29 in order to allow combination.

(60) The slots 3 are each oriented radially and allow an insertion of the sampling instrument 4 from outside of a plane defined by the sample holder 1, cf. FIG. 7.

(61) FIG. 8 shows that the running direction of the slot 3 encloses an angle with the disk plane.

(62) FIG. 9 shows a further sample holder 1 according to the invention, formed of segments 28 assembled at separation lines 29. Components and functional units which are identical or similar in function or construction to the preceding exemplary embodiments are indicated by the same reference signs and not described separately. The explanations in relation to FIGS. 1 to 8 therefore apply mutatis mutandis to FIGS. 9 to 11.

(63) The slots 3 are each directed up to the coupling 6. An insertion of the sampling instrument is thus possible in the disk plane of the sample holder 1 before the segments 28 are assembled. The assembled sample holder 1 in FIG. 9 thus has a star-shaped arrangement of slots 3.

(64) FIG. 12 shows a further sample holder 1 according to the invention, formed of segments 28 assembled at separation lines 29. Components and functional units which are identical or similar in function or construction to the preceding exemplary embodiments are indicated by the same reference signs and not described separately. The explanations in relation to FIGS. 1 to 11 therefore apply mutatis mutandis to FIGS. 12 to 14.

(65) In this connection, the slots 3 each run from the separation line 29 to a slot end 8, with the running direction of the slots 3 each enclosing an angle with the radial direction pointing to the center of rotation. The insertion openings 7 are closed in an assembled sample holder 1 by the adjacent segment 28.

(66) In the exemplary embodiments that are shown as per FIGS. 5 to 14, the segments 28 of a sample holder 1 are each identical. However, it is also possible to combine different segments 28, or it is possible, as a deviation from what has been shown, to assemble shaped segments to form sample holders comprising less than five or more than five segments.

(67) In the case of the discoid sample holder 1 on which means 2 for carrying out at least one processing step are formed, it is provided to form a slot 3, in which it is possible to insert a sampling instrument 4, and means 5 for the detachment of a sample from the sampling instrument 4 arranged in the slot 3.